My sister is the eldest of us three, so I was in middle school when she started high school. Whenever she'd head off to a college fair or tour, I always wanted to go with her. I loved the booths, the information packets, and the welcome sessions. I loved the orientations, the "O" weeks, and the … Continue reading Top 10 Things You Should Know (or Do) Before You Apply to College
I've always loved school. I loved school so much that I went to graduate school three times. I can't promise you that I won't go back to school, either. It calls out to me. Even though I know college isn't the answer. Even though I'm embarrassed by my staggering loan debt. Even though (and you … Continue reading Top Ten Things You Should Know (Or Do) Before You Get a Ph.D.
Charter schools are kind of like Beyoncé and kale. When I was in high school, a guy from my Algebra II and Chemistry class dated Kelly from Destiny's Child. Their first single hadn't come out yet when he brought in an autographed copy of the album cover. "This is my girlfriend! This is my girlfriend! … Continue reading On Beyoncé, Charter Schools, & Kale
When my sister was born she was five-feet-seven-inches tall. By the end of high school, my brother was six-feet-two. On a good day, with the right hat and proper footwear, I tower over them at a whopping five-feet-three inches tall. At first, the differences between being short and tall were subtle and barely worth mentioning. … Continue reading Should You Talk to Your Children about Race?
I volunteered to help out with White History Month at my church. I sat in on some planning sessions, and I wrote a few perspective pieces (from the perspective of white men and women) for the role-play. Only a few people knew that I'd written them, so many were surprised to learn later that the … Continue reading You Don’t Get To Decide (Black on Both Sides)
Everyone loves my father's cooking. Whenever anyone stops by, they ask if there's anything left over. If he happens to be away at the store, they'll casually and politely wait (even if their visit had nothing to do with food). Because it was always good, it was always gone too quickly. When we were little, … Continue reading Day 7, Week 10: Finish It
“It has to hurt if it’s to heal.” He was a child soldier called upon to complete a specific and dangerous quest. No one was able to adequately address his concerns, but he responded to the request with grace and a sense of wit. Although he understood the dangers, he believed in his mission and believed that … Continue reading Up
